Matrix analog system for the reproduction of images

ABSTRACT

Matrix analog system for the reproduction of images characterised for presenting an electronic command system for matrixes for the reproduction of video images in real time by means of pixels in a way that the image displayed by the matrix had analog attitude and characteristics and that do not depend on previous processing of the video signal through analog/digital or digital/analog converters, without the need for microprocessors, digital memories, shift registers or even computers and converters which are normally needed so that images could be generated on a pixel matrix. Presents variations that define the means for the building of pixel matrixes that do not have the characteristic of emitting light while not powered (LED&#39;s, lamps and similar devices) and means for the building of a photoluminescent matrix to allow the reproduction of colour images. Presents the addition of two grids for an improved brightness of the phosphorus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention patent refers to an electronic system developed so as tocommand a matrix for the reproduction of video images in real timethrough pixels (image elements) in a way that the image reproduced onthe matrix has the same advantages and the same attitude of theconventional cathodic ray tubes that is it may display composite videoimages in real time without the previous processing of analog/digital ordigital/analog converters, without the need for microprocessors, digitalmemories, shift registers or even computers and converters which arenormally needed so that images could be generated on a pixel matrix.

The display of information under the form of dynamic image when this isobtained by means of electronic reception or storage has been performedwith a device called kinescope for more than 70 years.

The kinescope is a glass device with thick walls, large dimensions andheavy, able to stand the external pressures once there is vacuum inside;the basic principle is to reproduce an image by means of an electronbeam that sweeps a screen embedded with phosphorus oxide and otherelements, producing light during a time lapse according to the speed andquantity of electrons that hit the mentioned screen. The beam sweepingis controlled electrically or magnetically and is obtained by means ofexternal analog devices, it is also necessary a high voltage producingdevice (approximately 25,000 volts) to accelerate the electrons insidethe tube. Even though all the technology developed and available allover the world, it has not yet been possible to produce a device thatcould substitute the kinescope for television sets and/or computermonitors with the same image quality, cost and performance.

This is due mainly because inside the kinescope the image is generatedanalogically, the image resolution is not limited by a fixed number ofpixels and/or light intensity once the resolution and image qualitydepend on the passing band of the circuit through which the video signalis transmitted rather than the kinescope itself as an image reproductionelement. Cathodic ray kinescopes present the inconvenience of the sizelimit due to the need of very high tension to be generated (the largerthe kinescope the higher the tension needed) and due to imageconvergence difficulties. In the last 70 years, because of these reasonscommercially speaking, the size of kinescopes did not go much beyond 37″diagonally.

However, with the advent of liquid crystals and advances in thedevelopment of photoluminescent displays and associated technologies, wehave nowadays computer monitors and even television sets of very lightweight that consume less energy and are competitively priced. Yet whenwe talk about image quality we must consider what is the objective, forinstance if we talk about a PC which display image is in general staticand with a defined number of pixels and light hues, generally 16, 32,256, etc. there is no problem, but when we speak about televisions with100% dynamic images producing around 60 frames per second and with aresolution that changes constantly needing moreover a viewing angle of120° it is totally different; limitations regarding transmission speeddue to digitalisation of the image, level of luminosity and narrowviewing angle are a great disadvantage, the latter almost discards theproduction of large dimension liquid crystal monitors in substitution ofkinescopes in commercial television sets.

There is another kind of monitor utilising LED's (light emittingdiodes), these generally of large dimensions, destined to be used aselectronic outdoor billboards for publicity (also called electronicpanels) the working principle is very much the same of the liquidcrystal one, the Principle of Image Digitalisation; according to thisprinciple any image or drawing that we wish to display may be digitallyrecorded or converted like computers that use the binary 100101 torepresent the number 37, we may use the same binary 100101 to representa colour or a light intensity onto a determined point of the displaythat has its moment authorised by the matrix coordinates in a logicaland precise manner. Thus the image is always static and previouslyknown.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The “MATRIX ANALOG SYSTEM FOR THE REPRODUCTION OF IMAGES” is not a new“type of monitor”, but a new way of control configuration for matrixesthat when applied to LED matrixes or even to the principle of cathodicray kinescopes (photoluminescent matrix) would considerably improveperformance of these.

As an example, it would be enough to use the “MATRIX ANALOG SYSTEM FORTHE REPRODUCTION OF IMAGES” together with the principle ofphotoluminescence already widely used on electronic equipment in generalas a result of which the weight of cathodic ray kinescopes, speciallythe largest ones, would become eight tenths, it would not be necessaryto have external circuits for the generation of high tension, deflectingcoils or others that will rise the final price of the product or eventhe difficulty of manufacturing 100″, 200″ or more diagonally and eventhen the thickness of the monitor would be practically the same, like ofa picture frame on the wall, correspondingly to photoluminescentdisplays.

For an improved phosphorus brightness it is presented in this patent theinclusion of a further sequence of grids so as to build a matrixtogether with the existing grids and the common connection of all theanodes or unique anode o apply a higher fixed voltage, and on this thephosphorus may be laid onto, either monochromatic or polychromatic.

I would not be necessary to digitise the image for LED matrix orphotoluminescent matrix or even the need for previous processing of thevideo information by means of analog/digital or digital/analogconverters, without the need for microprocessors, digital memories,shift registers or even computers and converters which are normallyneeded so that images could be generated on a pixel matrix. Likewiseresolution would not be conditioned to a pre determined number, thosematrixes would turn to work as an analog monitor thus greatly improvingthe image quality with a considerable reduction of cost. For a betterunderstanding of the “MATRIX ANALOG SYSTEM FOR THE REPRODUCTION OFIMAGES” follows a description with reference to he annexed drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Drawing 1 shows a general view of the matrix controlled by two devicesof sequential distribution.

Drawing 2 shows an enlarged view of a pixel with an analog memory forworking appliances like LED's, lamps and others.

Drawing 3 shows the arrangement of a system for the assembly ofpolychromatic pixels onto a photoluminescent appliance.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The system consists of two sequential devices, one is vertical for theconnection to the matrix vertical line (1) and another one forhorizontal is connection of the matrix column (2). Each of thesequential distribution devices has got its own oscillator, one for thevertical connection (3) and one for the vertical connection (4) whichaccording to its adjustment, vertical (5) or horizontal (6) determinethe height and width of the matrix image. The sequential distributiondevice has got sequential outputs from S₁ (7) to S_(n) (8) where ndetermines the maximum and only the maximum of the matrix column or linefor the authorisation connection of the pixels (9). These sequentialdevices (1) and (2) may be built with dedicated components, transistors,passive element, logical ports and so on. For best image resolution theoscillator frequency (3) of the sequential device (1) that commands thematrix lines must be equal to the vertical frequency of the source videosignal multiplied by the number of pixels of the matrix column, likewisethe oscillator frequency (4) to the sequential device (2) that controlsthe matrix columns must be given by the horizontal frequency of he videosignal multiplied by the number of pixels of the matrix line; to beremarked that it is not established a logical connection between theline command and the column command (characteristic of the digitalsystem). This characteristic that initially does not establishes anylogic to predetermine which pixel (9) will be authorised at a givenmoment and for how long, is the one that allows the reproduction of ananalog video signal without needing to digitise it or even definepreviously the number of pixels to be used on the matrix.

The synchronism pulses found in the video signal, vertical andhorizontal ones, will be applied onto the sequential device input (10)always in a way as to reset the sequential devices.

With the “MATRIX ANALOG SYSTEM FOR THE REPRODUCTION OF IMAGES” it ispossible to add or deduct pixels (9) to or from the matrix line withoutcompromising the functionality of the device, because as it has alreadybeen mentioned, the height and the width of the image is notpredetermined like in the matrix digital systems, but determined at anygiven time by the variation of the frequency of the oscillator containedin each sequential distribution device, (3) and (4) in the same way asit is adjusted the height and width of the image on television sets ormonitors whenever it is convenient. Consequently with this system videothe image is displayed with any number of pixels (9), even with 4 pixelson the matrix and still the image will be reproduced so that each pixelwill correspond to ¼ of the image, it is obvious that the greater thenumber of pixels being authorised on the matrix the greater will be theresolution.

Because of the characteristic of the sequential distribution device ofhaving only one active output at any given time, while the others awaittheir activation time, there will be only one authorised pixel on thematrix at any given time, because for such pixel to be authorised itneeds the activation of the line and column simultaneously, in this waythe maximum time in which each pixel remains disabled will be given bythe equation: Maximum disabled time =1/Pulse frequency of verticalsynchronism of the video signal, thus to visualise the image on thematrix each pixel (9) must have the capacity of staying bright for thepre-determined time instructed by the video signal present at the momentof authorisation of each pixel and such pixel must maintain itsbrightness during the period in which it is disabled, as it happens withcathodic rays tubes and on photoluminescent displays where thephosphorus performs the part of maintaining the brightness. When usinglight emitting devices that do not have the capacity of maintaining thebrightness independently, without being authorised, such as LED's,incandescent lamp e similar ones, it is necessary the use of an analogmemorisation electronic device (11) connected to a driver to control theabove mentioned light emitters.

The analog memorisation electronic device (11) takes advantage of alogical port (12) of the kind AND with two inputs, connected with thecrossing of the matrix column and line. This way the pixel will only beauthorised when the respective line and column are active. As a resultthe output of the AND port will activate one or more electronic switches(13), depending if the pixel is dichromatic or polychromatic. Theelectronic switch (13) has the function of permitting the connection ofthe video signal ready at the switches (14) during the moment of theauthorisation of the pixel so that this same video signal be storedunder the form of tension into a capacitor (15). After the disabling ofthe pixel and the release of the electronic switch (13), the capacitor(15) memorised analogically the voltage of the video signal present atthe moment of authorisation and keeps such voltage up to the nextauthorisation of the pixel, when again through the electronic switch(13) the video signal determines or not a new voltage for the capacitor(15). For the light emitter (16) to be activated using the voltagememorised by the capacitor (15), it is utilised an operational amplifier(17) configured as follower and not as a unitary gain voltage inverterwith high input impedance and low output impedance which purpose is toactivate the base of a transistor driver (18) that controls the lightemitter (16) or a set of these according to the capacitor voltage. It isobvious that for a dichromatic or polychromatic pixel it is alsonecessary to increase the number of electronic switches (13), capacitors(15), operational amplifiers (17), transistors (18) and so on,considering that the switches (13), one for each colour video signal,must be activated by the same port (12), type AND, that authorises thepixel.

For an application with a photoluminescent device, it would be possibleto build a matrix where the lines are grid strips (19) and the columnsare anode strips covered by photoluminescent material (20), once thecathode (21) that may be hot or cold, it is utilised for the directapplication of the video signal onto the input (22) which is alwayspresent by means of a transformer with central derivation, in the caseof hot cathode, and that has the function of heating up the filamentemitting so the electrons against the photoluminescent materialdeposited onto the anode, needed for light emission, this happens onlywhen the grid and the anodes overlap and are polarised by positivevoltage and this may occur only once on each of the matrix points, whichare determined by the sequential distribution devices mentioned beforethat have their active outputs positively polarised, these outputs arepolarised by negative voltage which in turn repels the electrons of thecathode. The two extra sequences of grids added, in turn vertical andhorizontal, are placed as matrix, one on top of the other at angle of90° (ninety degrees).

For a monochromatic version the anode shall be coated with only one kindof phosphorous corresponding to the desired colour. The polarisation ofthe grids is provided by the sequential distribution devices. The firstsequence of grids is controlled by the vertical distribution devicewhile the other sequence is controlled by the horizontal distributiondevice thus defining a unique crossing of the polarised grids at onetime. The anodes are all time polarised by an independent tensionproduced by the sequential distribution devices and that have asobjective to obtain a greater acceleration of the electrons that maypass through the vertical and horizontal grids, against the phosphorous,obtaining so a higher brightness proportionally to the polarisingtension. The video signal is applied directly to the cathode which maybehot or cold.

For a colour version of the “MATRIX ANALOG SYSTEM FOR THE REPRODUCTIONOF IMAGES” using a photoluminescent matrix, it is necessary that thematrix had its anode strips covered with photoluminescent material forthe emission of different colours and that the pixel be triple once thegrid strip (19) is common to the whole pixel but the anode strip (20) isdivided in 3 and each subdivision of the strip has to emit one of the 3primary colours of the light spectrum one strip emits the red light(20.1), another one emits the green colour (20.2) and another one theblue light (20.3), thus the polychromatic pixel reproduces combined thecolours and hues of visible spectrum in the same as in the cathodic raykinescopes. As there is a unique cathode (21) for the connection of thevideo signal and we actually have three kinds of video signals, one forthe red signal, one for the green one and one for the blue one, itbecomes necessary a control system to co-ordinate each kind of videosignal in a way so that this has access to the cathode when thesequential device that controls the anode strips (1) authorises theanode strip of the corresponding colour. Such control may be performedwith a third sequential device as this device has only 3 outputs from a1to a3, and that utilises the same oscillator (3) of the sequentialdevice (1) that controls the anode strips. As a result this outputs(a1), (a2) and (a3) control 3 electronic switches for the video signal,one for each colour. With the addition of the two sequences of grids,namely the vertical and the horizontal one, considering a polychromaticversion, the second sequence of grid is subdivided into three smallergrids which are as thick as the phosphorus that covers the anode stripswhich are overlaid; the connections of the sequential devices instead ofbeing attached to the anode strips are now attached to these gridstrips. The anode strips that are now connected all together, receive afixed tension.

1. A matrix analog system for the reproduction of images, withsequential devices, built with dedicated components, transistors,passive elements, logic ports, for the control of two-dimensionsmatrices to activate light emitting pixels, characterized by an analogpixel matrix command accomplished through two independent sequentialdistribution devices, controlling by means of its outputs theauthorization of a non predetermined number of pixels, these deviceshave an input that allow for the synchronization of the image throughthe synchronizing pulse, present in the video signal and in a way topermit through an internal oscillator in each sequential device, dynamiccontrol of image resolution by control of the sweeping speed of thelines and columns of the matrix.
 2. The matrix analog system for thereproduction of images, in accordance to claim 1, characterized forpresenting a system dispositions for the construction of polychromaticpixels on photoluminescent device with unique grid pixels and tripleanode, in a way that each anode has the characteristic of emitting lightwith one of the three primary colors of the visible spectrum (red,green, blue) and with a parallel filament cathode for the video signal.3. The matrix analog system for the reproduction of images, inaccordance with claim 1, characterized for presenting a system forutilizing analog memory and drive for the control of pixels that do notpresent the characteristic of emitting light while not powered, onmatrices.
 4. The matrix analog system for the reproduction of images,according to claim 2, featuring the addition of one more sequence ofgrids constructing the matrix with the already existing grid and theconnection of all anode strips in common or a unique anode or theapplication of a higher fixed voltage and on this anode the layering ofphosphorus in its monochromatic or polychromatic version, being the twogrid sequences, vertical and horizontal, disposed as the matrix, laidone on top of the other at an angle of 90° (ninety degrees).
 5. Thematrix analog system for there production of images, according to claim2, featuring as variation on the monochrome version, the anode coveredby only one kind of phosphorus corresponding to the desired color, thepolarization of the grids is performed by the sequential distributiondevices, being the first sequence of grids controlled by the verticalsequential distribution device and the other by the horizontalsequential distribution device, presenting only one crossing of thepolarized grids at a given time, the anodes are always polarized by anindependent tension produced by the sequential distribution devices fora higher acceleration of the electrons passing at the vertical andhorizontal grids against the phosphorus, obtaining thus a brighteremission of light, as greater as the polarizing tension itself, thevideo signal is applied on the cathode which may be cold or hot.
 6. Thematrix analog system for the reproduction of images, according to claim2, featuring as variation on the monochrome version a second sequence ofgrids, each one subdivided into three smaller grids as thick as thephosphorus strips that cover the anode, the strips are overlaid and theconnection of the sequential devices instead of being applied to theanodes strips are now applied to these grid strips, the anode stripswhich are now connected all together receive a fixed tension.